Keep Your Home Free of Bacteria and Mold

Mold and bacteria growth in your home is more than just an annoyance — it's a health risk. Both of these issues can make your family sick, and that's why you need to take the time to understand the cause of these problems and the best prevention measures to take.

What Causes Mold and Bacteria Growth?

Growth of mold in your home is not a sign of a dirty home. Spores for a number of molds are naturally in the air, no matter how clean a home is, and if they find a dark, warm and damp area, they will take root and start to grow. If you have an area in your home that is constantly damp, such as the area around a water leaked, the air conditioning system or in your bathroom where moisture in the air is almost always present, molds will start to grow.Bacteria is also naturally present in your home. It comes in on your shoes, food and even skin. This, unlike molds, can be combated by cleaning. However, if you are not cleaning the air as well as the surfaces in your home, you may still have a bacteria concern.

What Measures Can Prevent These Problems?

If you find that your family members are having respiratory concerns in your home, or if you notice signs of mold, such as visible mold spots or a musty smell in the home, then it's time to take measures to stop these problems. First, make sure your home is cleaned well to prevent bacteria growth. Next, take measures to stop unnecessary moisture. Exhaust fans in bathrooms, professional water damage repair when you have a leak and prompt attention when you have standing water are all important measures you can take. Finally, consider installing an air purifier to remove bacteria and mold from the air.

If you have further questions about mold and bacteria and your Broken Arrow home, the team at Air Assurance is here to help. Give our home comfort specialists a call today to discuss your concerns.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “ClkerFreeVectorImages/Pixabay”

Five Types Of Air Filters You Need To Know

When deciding what kind of HVAC air filter you want to use, there are a number of factors to consider.  Some are designed to be cleaned more frequently than others while some are more efficient.  Here are five of the most common types of air filters for use in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow region.Disposable FiltersThese are the most common air filters that are used because of their economical pricing and ease of use.  They should be replaced every six to eight weeks for maximum efficiency.  They are not designed to be washed.  This will only create holes which will make them less efficient.  As for efficiency, these are what is described as "boulder catchers".  They can only filter the extremely large particles flowing throughout your system, for instance, many can't stop salt when sprinkled on top of them.Permanent FiltersThese come in various sizes to fit your needs and do not need to be replaced.  They are easily removable to allow the user to clean them.  It is recommended that you clean them every 30 to 60 days to keep them operating at full power.  These are normally the most restrictive type air filters due to the long lasting fiber the filter is made out of.  This can put a major strain on airflow, causing increased dust, reduced comfort, and potential harm to the system.Hammock FiltersThese come in a  20-foot roll, allowing you to cut the filter to the appropriate size for a your hammock frame.  Once cut, you simply place them in the frame and trim any excess.  They should be disposed and replaced every 60 days. This is similair to the disposable in efficiency.  Most homeowners are bothered by the time it takes to maintain these.Electrostatic Air CleanerThese use electrostatic attraction to trap charged particles in the air and are very efficient at arresting dust, pollen, bacteria and other airborne pollutants.  They are permanent and can be easily washed every month.  Again, these type of filters are extremely restrictive to air flow.Large Pleated Media FiltersThis type of filter is popular because of the low maintenance required to keep them lasting for at least five years.  They tend to have very high efficiency levels and use a media cartridge that has to be replaced only every six months.  There are several different "levels" of pleated media.  You don't have to get the most expensive!  Usually those are very restrictive as well.If you are wondering what type of filtration system is best for your and your family, just ask your technician.  And by the way, Air Assurance has designed their own filters.  They're called Clean-Climate and we've tested them to make sure you get the optimum value of low resistance, high efficiency cleaning, as well as economic pricing.Air Assurance has been serving Oklahoma residents for more than 30 years. Experts are available to answer any questions you may have and provide any services you may need.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.